Watch as New York Highway Worker Narrowly Avoids Serious Injury

The Importance of New York State's Move Over Law

In 2010, New York State introduced the Move Over Law. According to the Governors Traffic Safety Committee the law was implemented to "prevent collisions with emergency vehicles that were stopped on the roadway."

It's reported that nationally, nearly 300 drivers are struck and killed while on the side of the road every year. The hope is that The Move Over Law will prevent future roadside tragedies.

Over the years the law has been expanded several times "to also cover hazard vehicles, highway worker vehicles and tow trucks."

The law states that when "a driver is approaching a vehicle stopped along either shoulder of the road, they should change into a lane not immediately adjacent to the vehicle or slow down to a reasonable speed if unable to safely make a lane change."

If the driver doesn't move or slow their vehicle they can be fined up to $150 for the first offense.

Watch as New York Highway Worker Narrowly Avoids Serious Injury

A driver in Broome County New York must have missed the Move Over Law memo.

The New York State Department of Transportation shared a terrifying video of a New York State highway worker narrowly missing being struck by a truck.  According to the DOT the incident happened on I-81 near Whitney Point, New York.

They go on to say the video serves as a reminder that "highway workers put their lives on the line every day to keep NY roads safe ." Watch the terrifying incident below:

The NYS DOT wrote on Facebook "These crashes are avoidable! Slow down, move over if possible, and stay alert in work zones—these simple actions can save lives."

NYS Trooper and Tow Truck Driver Struck in Upstate, New York

Unfortunately, there's a pattern of this behavior of drivers ignoring the Move Over Law in New York. Recently, a pick-up truck struck a tow truck driver and a New York State Trooper on the side I-87 near Colonie, New York.

Read More: Truck Strikes Trooper & Tow Truck Driver in Upstate New York

The driver, 40-year-old Jason J. Guerin, of Malta, NY, was arrested and charged with several felonies including Driving While Ability Impaired by drugs. Guerin was arraigned at the Colonie Town Court and remanded to Albany County Correctional without bail.